The much needed dredging of Mandeville’s Bayou Castine is finally a go.

The City Council approved a task order Thursday night that calls for a 1,600-foot section of the bayou near the boat launch and harbor pavilion to be dredged.

Mayor Eddie Price expressed his desire to have the waters dredged earlier this year after fishermen reported the water’s depth had decreased considerably since the latest bout of storms rolled through southeast Louisiana.

The excess of silt in Bayou Castine in Mandeville will finally be removed thanks to the green light given by the City Council. (Staff Photo by Chad Ruiz)

In some areas, the water is only 5 feet deep, Price said. Shallower waters pose problems for larger boats and can cause damage to keels and propellers, Price said.

The task order said the job will cost about $400,000, but Price doesn’t believe it will be that high because the last dredging that occurred several years ago totaled $100,000.

The majority of the silt buildup is caused from storms pushing the deposits into the bayou. Since the last dredging, hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike have all contributed to the buildup of silt, Price said.

The job will now go out for bid and the dredging should begin sometime early next year.

Also at Thursday’s meeting: the council received the first quarterly expense report since the creation of the city’s credit card and travel expense policies. Mayor Pro Tem Trilby Lenfant said the council did not find any discrepancies in the reports.

The new policies were put into place earlier this year after a report issued by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office found substantial misuse with city-issued credit cards and Fuelman cards. The policies mandate that all expenses incurred on city credit cards or money paid for travel expenses be reported to the council for review.

The new practices will help garner more accountability among city officials and employees, Lenfant said.

The next quarterly report will come sometime early 2009.